Textile Society of America

 

Date of this Version

1998

Citation

From Creating Textiles: Makers, Methods, Markets. Proceedings of the Sixth Biennial Symposium of the Textile Society of America, Inc. New York, NY, September 23–26, 1998 (Earleville, MD: Textile Society of America, Inc., 1999).

Comments

Copyright © 1998 by the author(s)

Abstract

"The picture of the industrial worker is not the portrait of the whole manthis can be painted, if at all, only after tracing his other social involvements and incorporating them."

A cultural analysis of any large entity such as a Mill is a difficult procedure.The focus of the following research is the development of a proto-industrial woollen Mill in rural Northern Scotland from the mid 18th century to the latter 20th century. It is sometimes difficult to separate linen,jute and woollen textile experiences as workers share so much in skill and social circumstance. Indeed, part of the curiosity of the success of the Kynoch Mill, in Keith Scotland is that many textile workers did not choose to migrate to areas like Dundee, and southern Scotland in search of employment.

A few factors can be attributed to the allegiance of textile workers in Keith, not the least of which was an empathic and socially conscious mill owner. An understanding of the physical and economic growth of the town of Keith is integral to understanding the relationship between the supporting industries and roles of the citizens of Keith as textile labourers.

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